One Mind for Research

I just returned from the One Mind for Research conference recently held in Boston. The conference was co-chaired by former Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Garen Staglin from the International Mental Health Research Organization. The group convened to outline a 10-year roadmap for neuroscience research and lay the groundwork for innovative funding models to support basic neuroscience research.

We heard from a wide variety of presenters, who demonstrated the great progress and prospects for research into neurological diseases. They shared amazing findings, including groundbreaking research into Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Alzheimer’s Disease, and Brain Computer Interfaces.

Throughout the scientific sessions, we also heard from the patients and care-givers who told deeply personal stories about the devastation and burden of mental diseases. Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA-7) told the story of his mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s and how his father took care of her. Former Senator Max Cleland provided a vivid retelling of his experience in the Vietnam War, which robbed him of his legs and one of his arms and took a deep mental toll.

Mary Woolley, the CEO of Research!America provided closing remarks to the second day of the conference. In her remarks, she drew parallels to JFK and the civil rights era, as a demonstration of what we can accomplish as a nation when we unite for change.

The conference culminated on May 25th, the 60th anniversary of JFK’s famous Moonshot speech, in which President Kennedy challenged our nation to put an American on the Moon. In a fitting tribute, Vice-President Biden joined the conference participants at the JFK Presidential library in support of Kennedy’s One Mind initiative and brain science. Colonel ‘Buzz’ Aldrin also spoke and described his vision for space exploration in the 21st century.

Overall, the conference was a crash course in cutting-edge neuroscience and a vivid look into the lives and loss of those who suffer from mental illness. Visit the One Mind for Research website to view conference highlights and the roadmap.

S&T Challenges in FY 2012: A View from the Helm

Last week, I attended the annual Science and Technology Policy forum convened by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The conference was kicked off by John P. Holdren, the Science Advisor to the President and the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

Dr. Holdren provided a glowing assessment of the President’s commitment to science, exclaiming that President Obama ‘gets it’ when it comes to the importance of science and technology. But with the recent debates over fiscal policy, the honeymoon is clearly over. We’ve already seen budget cuts to many of the research agencies and more may be on the horizon.

Dr. Holdren laid out what he believes to be some of the challenges facing federal R&D over the coming months. Basic research at the Department of Defense will likely come under increased scrutiny. The Department of Energy, which saw significant cuts during the recent budget deal, can expect attempts to downsize or eliminate programs like carbon capture and fusion.

At the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences will likely be targeted. This particular Directorate was already singled out in Eric Cantor’s YouCut initiative. Historically, social sciences have always been a controversial component of the NSF portfolio and the current fiscal debate provides a new impetus for criticism.

Regulatory practices by the Food and Drug Administration will probably be challenged on the grounds that overly burdensome regulation slows job creation and dissuades companies from commercializing new products. Lastly, Dr. Holdren pointed out that programs supporting international collaboration will be squeezed, likely on the grounds that we shouldn’t be sending domestic dollars overseas.

Clearly, science is facing an uphill battle in an increasingly tumultuous political environment. If you care about the important research that our government supports, now is the time to speak out.

Research!America Annual Events

When I first started at Research!America, there was one date I didn't stop hearing about, a fateful Tuesday in March. Each year, our organization hosts four events in one day: a board meeting, an annual meeting, a national forum, and an awards dinner. From breakfast to dessert, it's a day of the best minds and leading voices in the health research and advocacy communities. Yesterday was no exception.

All four of the events of the day are interesting and important, but my favorite every year is the policy-centered National Health Research Forum. I love seeing the leadership of our major health agencies discuss the issues of the day with captains of industry, extraordinary scientists and patient advocates. If you missed it, you can listen to the podcast of the program.


If you have trouble listening to the full audio file, or would like to listen to a particular section, click here.

It's possible there is some bias here because I do a lot of the planning for the Forum. Being an organizer makes it easier to see all the hidden layers of planning and appreciate the level of detail in the event. Like the broken records: most amount of participants in the program ever - both in terms of guests and speakers; fundraising goals met and exceeded; and the incredible diversity of our sponsors. Or the little things: watching advocates network and make connections, seeing all of the new materials we produced this year make their way into interested hands, or having no last-minute emergencies. It makes all of the planning worthwhile to know that more and stronger advocacy for research to improve health was inspired in that ballroom.
By: Heather Benson

Thoughts from other New Voices:

Jamie Vernon
Last night renewed my faith that we have to right tools and the right people to deliver the message to the American people that science is vital to our success as a nation. I have attended star-studded galas in the past, but nothing prepared me for the guest list at Research!America's Advocacy Awards. From my 15-minute conversation with Francis Collins before the event that covered everything from my research interests to my science communication efforts, through to the end, when I shook hands with Charlie Rose and thanked him for his commitment to science, I was overwhelmed with appreciation for Research!America. The speeches from the Honorable John Porter, Dean Kamen and Mayor Bloomberg inspired me to continue to advocate for science. I only hope the message that was delivered to that room will reach beyond the Congressmen and women who were in attendance.

Sara Gallagher
I was very excited to attend Research!America's Advocacy Awards this year. One of the highlights of my evening was getting the opportunity to talk with Mike Castle, the former U.S. Representative from my home state of Delaware, who has always been a supporter of research to improve health.

Christian Torres
For many of us, it seems as if the people who shape our nation's health - government officials, researchers, academics, industry, media, and the public - never truly come together. At last night's dinner, however, I got to see it happen. With 500 people socializing, the conversations might have been light, but it's encouraging to know that there is indeed a large group of engaged, dedicated, and passionate advocates who can take their various interests and connections to the next level. I can only imagine the deep conversations and bold ideas that will develop out of the dinner and our National Forum. At least now I know that talking and working together for health isn't such a stretch of the imagination.

Pallavi Phartiyal
Research!America's annual advocacy awards dinner is an effective reminder of the extent of support that medical research enjoys from a wide cross section of public, especially from unusual suspects outside the research community - from a TV talk show host to a city mayor.

Images courtesy of Mike Gatty.

Live Tweeting from Research!America Annual Events

It's a big day for Research!America: our annual meeting, National Health Research Forum, and Advocacy Awards dinner are all on the agenda. If you can't make it, check out our live tweeting below.

If you're with us here at the events, or otherwise want to join the conversation, be sure to use the #nhrf11 (National Health Research Forum) and #raawards (Advocacy Awards dinner) hashtags.

Special note: As soon as we catch our breath tomorrow, we'll write up our favorite moments of the day to share.

The Science of Farting

The annual American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) meeting was recently held in downtown Washington, DC. The meeting is a great opportunity to connect with colleagues and attend fascinating scientific lectures on a variety of topics from brain-machine interface to the science of farting.

Yes, today’s video post answers an age-old question: how much farting force would be required to achieve liftoff? The speaker is Chris Smith from the University of Cambridge and creator of the podcast The Naked Scientists.




Although the subject of his talk may seem ridiculous, it was certainly memorable. And herein lies an invaluable insight into effective communication – if you want your message to stick, make it stand out. At this very same meeting were dozens of other presentations on scientific topics, but I would bet that none used humor and sheer weirdness as tools for connecting with the audience and ultimately ensuring a lasting impression.

How could you use humor and weirdness to make your next presentation more memorable?

Tune in Thursday: Two Science Communication Opportunities

This Tuneage Tuesday, we want to share two upcoming opportunities for  learning more about science communication.

For anyone with an Internet connection:

Thursday, Feb. 17 starting at 7:30 p.m.: Beyond the Bench: The Perceived Price of Activism
A presentation and discussion with Dr. Kathy Barker, author of At the Helm: Leading your Lab. This is a free and virtual event. To attend this Seminar, RSVP to fellow New Voice Brie Welzer at brielle.welzer@sefora.org.

For those in the DC area:

Thursday, Feb. 17: Check out a screening of "The Human Spark" and have a discussion with science communication experts at American University in Washington, DC.

Health Research as Common Ground in the New Congress: A Post-Election Analysis

How will the elections impact investment in health research? What can the advocacy community expect from the 112th Congress? What strategies will ensure research remains a funding priority?

Join us November 16 for a distinguished panel of speakers that will help us survey the landscape in the aftermath of this year's midterm elections. The event, a part of our Your Candidates-Your Health voter education initiative, will be held in the auditorium at the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington, DC.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Alan I. Leshner, PhD, AAAS chief executive officer
• The Honorable John Edward Porter, Research!America chair;
• Stacie Propst, PhD, Research!America vice president of science policy and outreach;  
• Mary Woolley, Research!America president and CEO; and  
• Norman J. Ornstein, PhD, of the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research.

Admission is free, and the event begins at 10 a.m. with a breakfast and networking opportunity. Speakers will present starting at 10:30 a.m., and a question-and-answer session will follow.

To sign up for the event, visit the event listing on our website.

Meet Raquel Lieberman, PhD, Assistant Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Lieberman, a brilliant early-career investigator, shared her story at the Congressional briefing we co-hosted with ACS, "Investing in Our Future: A New Generation of Researchers."

Raquel L. Lieberman, Ph.D. joined the faculty of the School of Chemistry at Georgia Tech in January 2008 as an assistant professor after a joint postdoctoral research position at Harvard Medical School, Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Brandeis University in Boston, MA. She graduated from MIT with a bachelor in science in Chemistry and from Northwestern with a PhD and is a native of New York City.

Dr. Lieberman's lab investigates proteins, the "worker molecule" of your body. The lab first tries to understand how normal proteins function so that they can understand how abnormal proteins cause diseases, like glaucoma and Alzheimer's disease. They can use this knowledge about abnormal proteins to try to design new ways to treat or diagnose the diseases.

Dr. Lieberman also shared with the audience the many jobs involved in being a Principle Investigator and some of the difficulties of being an early-career researcher.

You can see her power point presentation to see what it takes to be an assistant professor here (slides 31-42).


This is part of the ongoing Profiling New Voices series.

Investing in Our Future

Yesterday, Research!America and the American Chemical Society co-hosted a congressional briefing that is right up our alley: Investing in Our Future: A New Generation of Researchers. (See Rachel Shoop’s summary of the event.) Clearly, investing in young scientists resonates with the community, as was seen by the large turnout.

As Mr. John Edward Porter, former Congressman and current chair of Research!America, pointed out, the US is the global leader in scientific research but there are strong competitors. We must work to maintain our competitiveness, and that means investing in science, technology, innovation and research, particularly in the young scientists that are our future.

Apparently, it’s not just the early-career investigators out there who think this funding is crucial. These scientists have a much bigger impact than simply satisfying their scientific curiosity. According to Iain Cockburn, PhD, Professor of Finance and Economics, School of Management, Boston University, the life sciences are the “crown jewel” of our economy. Scientists’ progress leads to improvements in human health, more jobs, and economic growth. The point is that a small investment in young scientists now will have a huge payoff later.

What’s more, the lack of investment can have devastating effects. Meryl Comer, president and CEO of the Geoffrey Beene Gives Back Alzheimer’s Initiative, emphasized that the lack of funding is not only decimating the research but also discouraging young scientists from pursuing research as a career. This is where we are going to lose our competitiveness.

Raquel Lieberman, PhD, Assistant Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology, a brilliant early-career investigator herself, pointed out what many late-stage graduate students are shocked to realize: running a lab is more like running a small business, only they didn’t go to business school. The job becomes all about funding, with new investigators writing around 20 grants in their first year. How can they take care of the rest of the “business” when they worry so much about where the money is coming from?

Marshall Hussain Shuler, PhD of Johns Hopkins University demonstrated the level of expertise and creativity these early-career researchers have - essential components of discovery. Their new and unique visions will blaze the path for the future of research.

To make that happen, we must alleviate the pressure from these early-career investigators. It seems that they just can’t find enough money or time. There needs to be more funding directed to early-career investigators so they can focus on the research and teaching aspects of their jobs. Those are the aspects that will have the most impact.

Regardless, there definitely needs to be more advocacy. Ms. Comer and Mr. Porter both stressed the importance of advocacy in getting support for an issue meaningful to you. This is a very important issue--we need to let others know, too.

Event: Investing in Our Future

If you're in the DC area, you're strongly encouraged to join some of your fellow New Voices on Capitol Hill next Thursday to discuss the value of investing in the next generation of researchers (read: you!).

The invite is below. RSVP ASAP and leave a comment so we can be sure to catch you at the event.


and honorary co-hosts

Senator Barbara Mikulski
Representative Rush Holt
Representative Vernon Ehlers

cordially invite you to a luncheon briefing:

Investing in Our Future:
A New Generation of Researchers

October 7, 2010, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
Dirksen Senate Office Building G50

A robust U.S. scientific workforce is essential for maintaining our nation's global competitiveness, increasing our long-term economic prosperity, and solving many of the pressing global problems we face. But when resources are limited, surviving in an already competitive federal R&D system becomes even more difficult for early-career researchers.

To ensure that we have the research leaders of tomorrow, the U.S. must cultivate a new generation of scientists now, by investing in agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. This briefing will highlight the societal benefits of federal research and the challenges and opportunities early-career investigators face in establishing a foothold in the scientific profession.

Opening Remarks
The Honorable John Edward Porter, Chair, Research!America

Moderator
James Gentile, PhD, President, Research Corporation for Science Advancement

Panelists
Iain Cockburn, PhD, Professor of Finance and Economics, School of Management, Boston University 
Marshall Shuler, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University 
Raquel Lieberman, PhD, Assistant Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology 
Meryl Comer, President, Geoffrey Beene Gives Back Alzheimer's Initiative

To RSVP: Register online or contact Michelle Hernandez by email mhernandez@researchamerica.org or phone 571-482-2715.

Stand Up to Cancer

I am going to remain in my comfort zone for my very first New Voices blog post. I figure my background in cancer research qualifies me to discuss the topic of…cancer research. In honor of Stand Up to Cancer Day, I will highlight some of the important work being done by a group searching for a cure to cancer. Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) is a charitable organization dedicated to accelerating groundbreaking cancer research.

At 8pm this evening, SU2C will host a live broadcast to raise awareness and money for cancer research. I know that sounds about as fun as hearing your uncle’s “why did the chicken cross the road?” joke for the 13th time--especially on a Friday night. But, it promises to be entertaining and informative (if only school could combine the two!). Many actors, comedians, and musicians will take the stage as well as scientists and advocates.

One featured group, 46 Mommas, is an amazing group of 46 women who represent the 46 children who are diagnosed with cancer every day. They are hoping to raise $1 million for childhood cancer research, and they even shaved their heads to raise awareness for the cause!

In 2008, SU2C hosted a hugely successful live broadcast that was aired across the country, featuring celebrities who believe in the cause. It raised much-needed awareness and brought in over $100 million for cancer research, which I find pretty exciting (the rest of you can enjoy watching these ladies stand up).



With this money, SU2C is trying to change the way research is done. They are promoting cutting-edge research done by young scientists that might not be funded by other means, which is a huge deal for these young scientists! SU2C has funded thirteen “Innovative Research Grants”. These projects are risky--they may not work. But if they do work, they promise to be a breakthrough in cancer therapy.

One project looks at the role a particular protein, BCL6, plays in leukemia development, particularly in leukemia stem cells. The stem cells initiate the cancer, but are particularly difficult to kill using chemotherapy. Even worse, they can cause the disease to come back once the drugs are stopped. This is why many researchers are studying how to kill the leukemia stem cells.

In addition to innovation, SU2C is encouraging more cooperation among scientists. They funded five “Dream Team Grants”, where each project is tackled in labs across the country.

One such grant involves researchers from New York to Texas who are trying to identify targeted therapies for women with cancer. A targeted therapy is one that is directed to cells with a particular marker or mutation. You may have heard of a common targeted therapy called Gleevec, which kills cells with the BCR-Abl mutation in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Well, the Dream Team scientists have found that mutations in a gene called PI3K are found in breast and ovarian cancer. They are trying to use drugs that specifically block PI3K to kill the cancer cells. Targeted therapies like these will mean doctors can give each patient the best drug based on the markers in their particular cancer with less side effects than standard chemotherapy.

There is so much great work being accomplished in areas at the forefront of cancer research because of SU2C. I can’t do all of these brilliant researchers justice. You can read more on the SU2C website or tune in to the show to hear from the scientists themselves.

There is still much knowledge to be gained and many brilliant researchers looking for a cure. Funding will give them, and us, a chance.

Happy Hour

You're invited to join New Voices for Research at a happy hour next Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Laughing Man Tavern in Washington, DC.

Members of the New Voices for Research community will be gathering to eat, drink, and communicate! This is an excellent opportunity to meet your fellow New Voices in person.

Pertinent Details
When: Next Tuesday, July 20, 2010 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Laughing Man Tavern, 1306 G St., NW, Washington, DC

You don't have to RSVP, but it would help us reserve enough space. Drop us a line in the comments (with at least your first name or a screen name) and we look forward to seeing you there!

Scientific Babbel Fish

Scientists are not typically masters of communicating the importance of their work to those outside their field. Normal procedure is to quietly slip a scientific paper into a highly specialized journal, guaranteeing that it will be completely ignored by the general public. A publication in even one of the best journals like Science or Nature might, at most, garner a five second mention on National Public Radio. Sure, the physicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson has been on the Colbert Report 15 times, but for the most part, there is little attempt from scientists to expose mainstream America to what they do. Working in Washington has opened my eyes to the fact that other fields operate differently.

On June 14th I was invited to attend to a press release on Capitol Hill of A RESEARCH PAPER! Two economists analyzed how woefully sluggish the FDA regulatory process is and wrote a report demonstrating that huge sums of money are lost by slowly bringing new medicines to market. It is a well designed and written study, but what was most impressive was the level at which these researchers publicized their work. The paper release was loaded with reporters, photographers, staffers from Congressional offices…there was even decent food. Could that be more different from science?

The publicity worked as well as Barry Bonds after a visit to his special "muscle trainer". A Google search for “The Cost of Caution”, the title of the report, produces 205 hits. The study received major attention from multiple fields. Journalists and bloggers from investors.com, medicalprogresstoday.com, Bloomberg's Businessweek, and Forbes magazine, all wrote pieces on the report. There are even facebook posts and tea party websites that covered the paper release.

Science researchers would be smart to try and replicate this formula. Far too little effort is exerted on the public outreach side of science. Imagine a world where a paper from the Journal of Molecular Ecology is explained in normal terminology to a group of interested reporters. It is not impossible but will only start with greater outreach from the researchers themselves.

AAAS Science & Technology Policy Forum - Day 2

Yesterday, we started sharing some of the themes captured by your New Voices bloggers at the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Forum. Today we continue by sharing our notes from two of Friday's sessions.

Also - be sure to check out the New Voices Twitter feed for direct quotes from the speakers.

Strengthening the U.S. Climate for Innovation

• Innovation is using new knowledge to generate payback.
• Innovation has accounted for half of U.S. productivity growth over the pat 50 years (see slide above, courtesy of Andrew Taylor of The Boston Consulting Group).
  
• Increased direct government spending yields results.
• Excellence in science and technology is not enough to be a world leader.
• We need to remove barriers and encourage creativity.
• We need new kinds of scientists and engineers with: communication skills, multicultural understanding, foreign languages, and training in psychology and the creative arts
  
• What can the U.S. do?

Promote science & technology education

Increase innovation spending

Promote industry clusters & centers of excellence

Remove bureaucratic barriers

Promote intellectual property protections

National Security and the Roles for Science and Technology

• Cyber security is uncharted territory; there are no rules of war.
• There is a relationship between higher education and intelligence communities. One mechanism for collaboration is the NSHEAB - National Security Higher Education Advisory Board which works with federal intelligence community.

March of Dimes Walk for Babies

Looking at me using physics to life up a car at COSI, you'd never know I was born with a congenital birth defect. My right kidney had two upper poles, rather than one, and a blocked ureter.

In my case the doctor used dye to follow the path of blood and urine through my system. Because the blocked ureter only occurred in one kidney, renal function (kidney function) appeared to be normal. This was not the case and as a result the kidney deteriorated over time and had to be removed via nephrectomy (kidney removal). Because of organizations such as the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation better science exists today for identifying issues in premature babies, newborns, and infants.

As a teenager I babysat a young girl who had the exact same birth defect as I experienced. Her mother had us compare scars and this little girl’s scar was half the size of mine. Instead of an incision that extended from my front to my back , hers was only 3 inches long. She also had half of her kidney on which the doctor performed the nephrectomy. I was overjoyed to learn that medical science had developed enough for this little girl to have an even better outcome than my successful surgery.

March for Babies, formerly WalkAmerica, funds programs, advocacy and research to prevent premature birth, birth defects, and infant mortality. Each year the American government spends billions of dollars on research for diseases and disorders. It is imperative that research continue for children and infants specifically, because their bodies metabolize drugs differently. Medical professionals cannot make dosing decisions based on weight alone. Infants deserve definitive solutions to their health issues.

The March of Dimes first mission was to eradicate poliomyelitis (polio by its common name) in America. The polio epidemic reached its height in the mid 20th Century and affected not only infants, but also adolescents. Jonas Salk developed a vaccine for polio, which was subsequently tested in a clinical trial (one of the largest in history) sponsored by the March of Dimes. The trials were a success and as of 1991 polio has been eradicated in the western hemisphere.
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation continues to educate people and fund and advocate for research to improve the health of premature babies and infants. We can contribute by participating in the Walk for Babies this Saturday, April 25th 2010.

If you live in the DC area, join the anticipated thousands of participants this weekend in the March of Dimes March for Babies. The March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation is holding its annual March for Babies.

The event begins at the Washington Monument grounds at 15th Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW. Registration begins at 8:00 am and the walk begins at 9:00am. Washingtonians will come together for four miles to support research that improves the health of one of society’s most defenseless group.

There are other opportunities to donate to the cause. Famous Footwear has a coupon for the official shoe of the Walk for Babies. You can form a team, join a team, or donate directly to the organization via their website.


Jessica Stutzman has a Bachelor of Arts in Security and Intelligence from The Ohio State University and is an administrative assistant at Research!America. She has previously contributed to New Voices on women's issues.

Invest in Tomorrow. Invest in Research.

A week or so ago, we invited New Voices to attend Research!America's 2010 National Forum, Invest in Tomorrow. Invest in Research. It was an amazing event - and we'll all be telling you more about it soon. But as a recap, check out Kimberly's live tweeting on NV4Research and the podcasts of the panel sessions below.

From left: R. Tjian, J. Howse, T. Frieden, J. Woodruff, P. Chew, C. Clancy

Panel 1: Working Toward Better Health for All

Moderator: Judy Woodruff, "PBS Newshour"

• Paul Chew, MD, chief science & medical officer, sanofi-aventis U.S.
• Carolyn M. Clancy, MD, director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH, director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Jennifer Howse, PhD, president, March of Dimes Foundation
• Robert Tjian, PhD, president, Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

From left: M. Hamburg, F. Collins, B. Kunz, M. Kinsley, J. Watters,
& M. Anderson

Panel 2: Translating Discoveries into Better Health

Moderator: Michael Kinsley, The Atlantic

• Margaret Anderson, executive director, FasterCures
• Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, director, National Institutes of Health
• Margaret Hamburg, MD, commissioner, Food and Drug Administration
• Barbara Kunz, president, Health and Life Sciences Global Business, Battelle Memorial Institute
• Jack T. Watters, MD, vice president of external medical affairs, Pfizer Inc.

View more photos from the 2010 National Forum.

Ode to Pi

Comic credit: Savage Chickens

Did you know that the earliest documented use of an approximation of pi was by the Egyptians and Babylonians about 4,000 years ago? The first rigorous calculation didn’t happen until around 250 BC, when Archimedes used the method of exhaustion to approximate pi as 3.14185.

For anyone who is not familiar with the method of exhaustion (and really, you shouldn't be), it can be used to calculate the circumference of a circle by drawing two polygons, one on the outside of the circle and one on the inside. As the number of sides of the polygons increases, the area of the polygon gets closer to the circumference of the circle, as illustrate d in the picture below. In his calculation, Archimedes used a 96 sided polygon! I’m exhausted just thinking about it…

Image credit: Methods of Exhauation Wikipedia Page

Pi Day is coming up on March 14th. Pi is a constant that has an almost cult following. One mystery that has always baffled me is the obsession people have with memorizing the digits of pi. I even stumbled across a listing for ranks of reciting pi while juggling.

To solve equations for my math and science classes, I always used 3.14 to approximate pi. But how close does this get you to the correct answer? Believe it or not, for most applications, 3.14 is a good enough estimate. However, if you wanted to use pi to calculate an extremely large circumference, such as one that fits the universe, 3.14 would not get you a very accurate answer. In fact, to calculate a circle of that size within the distance of a single atom, you still would not need to use more than 39 decimal places of pi. But that hasn’t stop mathematicians from competing to have the world record for most digits of pi calculated. Fabrice Bellard is a computer scientist who has recently claimed that he may hold the new record, having calculated pi to 2.7 trillion digits!

Here are a few fun facts about Pi and Pi Day:

• Pi Day was first celebrated in 1988 at the Exploratorium in San Francisco
• Pi Day also happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday
• Pi is not limited to circles, but also used in equations for statistics, physics and economics
• A billion decimals of pi printed in standard font would stretch from New York City to Kansas.
• On Star Trek they rid the Enterprise’s computer of an evil entity by sending the computer into an infinite loop by ordering the computer to "compute to the last digit the value of pi."

How are you celebrating Pi Day?

Washington Academy of Sciences

Today's guest post is by a 2009 New Voices regular, Jacqueline Maffucci.

If there's one thing I’ve learned since I’ve moved to Washington, there’s never a lack of things to do. The scientist in me is always looking for fun ways to explore the DC science scene. That’s why I was so excited to learn about the Washington Academy of Sciences.

This organization is steeped in history. It’s one of the few organizations in existence that brings together local science societies (yup, the affiliates are all societies found in the DC Metro area) of all disciplines for one common interest – to celebrate science. It began in 1898 with eight affiliated organizations, and its founders included Alexander Graham Bell and Samuel Langley, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Its stated mission is to encourage the advancement of science and "to conduct, endow, or assist investigation in any department of science."

Now, in 2010, the WAS has grown to include over 60 affiliates. It prints a quarterly journal and participates in and organizes a number of scientific events to show off the DC Metro area’s science prowess. This brings me to the topic of the hour.

From March 27-28, 2010, WAS will be sponsoring the Capitol Science Conference. Events scheduled include presentations by a number of its affiliate societies as well as some top notch key note speakers. However, what I, personally, am really excited about are the two plenary sessions. On Saturday (3/27), PBS is presenting “Growing Up with Science at PBS” and on Sunday (3/28), Shawn Otto will be moderating “Science Policy Debate ’08 – Where Are We Now.”

You can visit the Washington Academy of Science website to learn more about the event, see the schedule, or to register. Hope to see you all there!


Jacqueline Maffucci earned her B.S. in Animal Science from Cornell University, and a PhD in neuroscience from The University of Texas at Austin. She is an active member of the New Voices for Research community.

Research!America's 2010 National Forum

For those in the DC area, this a great opportunity to hear about policy.

Research!America's 2010 National Forum will be the seventh annual discussion among nationally recognized leaders in health research - a "who's who" of government, academia, industry, media and patient advocacy.

Two discussions will be followed by question-and-answer sessions. Conversation will focus on the fundamental role of research in the U.S. economy and the American way of life. As the country continues to emerge from the economic recession and our leaders prioritize limited resources, participants will examine topics important to the future of research in our country. The Atlantic's Michael Kinsley and PBS NewsHour's Judy Woodruff will moderate. Confirmed panelists include:

Federal agency heads:

* Carolyn M. Clancy, MD, director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
* Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, director, National Institutes of Health
* Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH, director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
* Margaret Hamburg, MD, commissioner, Food and Drug Administration

And:

* Margaret Anderson, executive director, FasterCures
* Paul Chew, MD, chief science & medical officer, sanofi-aventis U.S.
* Jennifer Howse, PhD, president, March of Dimes Foundation
* Barbara Kunz, president, Health and Life Sciences Global Business, Battelle Memorial Institute
* Robert Tjian, PhD, president, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
* Jack T. Watters, MD, vice president of external medical affairs, Pfizer Inc

Join us Tuesday, March 16, 2010 from noon to 3 p.m. at the National Press Club. Admission is complimentary for Research!America members, and $25 for others.* RSVP today!

*Let us know in the comments if you're planning on coming, as all of your regular New Voices bloggers will be there and we'd love to meet you in person!

State of the Union

Tomorrow night at 9 p.m. Eastern, President Barack Obama is going to give a State of the Union address. I’m not going to speculate on the content, or tell you what I hope he’ll discuss. Rather, I’d like to give you a little history on the State of the Union and tell you why you should be listening tomorrow night.

“He shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”

-Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution

The first State of the Union address was given by George Washington on January 8, 1790. Since then, every president has either given a speech or written a memo (that was later read aloud to Congress) on an annual basis that detailed where the nation was and where it was going. This may seem a rather dated tradition in an age where almost everyone has access to national news, but the value isn’t in the reporting of the actual state of the union, it is in the framing of the details in the address.

That may not seem clear, so let me explain. There are certain facts about our country. Then there is the interpretation of those facts. Considering the breadth of geography, people, and political opinions – we don't all have the same vision of America. As citizens, we should know our leader’s thoughts on what is important (you can tell he thinks it’s important if he includes it in the speech) and why it is important.

Here at New Voices we do our best to help provide resources that empower you to become better communicators and advocates for research and science. Part of being good at communicating and advocacy is being informed; knowing where our elected officials stand on the issues and what they plan to do (so we can either encourage or discourage it).

I encourage you to take the time to listen to the State of the Union tomorrow night. If you won’t be home or near a radio, record it. If you can’t record it, we’ll have a link to a transcript up on Thursday (and we know you have Internet, or you wouldn’t be reading this). We don’t all have to agree with the president, but we have a duty to know how he sees our nation.